RS

MEMBER DIARY

2nd Amendment March in DC

Patriot’s Day. The anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. An anniversary forgotten, though without this day, the Fourth of July would be just another summer’s day.

I had forgotten this anniversary. No media celebrated it outside of Massachusetts. No school trumpets it. The country has forgotten about it.

But the 2nd Amendment supporters remembered. And they reminded me.

And so I went to the DC 2nd Amendment Rally to celebrate the “shot heard round the world.” I went to celebrate the right to keep and bear arms; the right of a free man to defend his liberty.

And what did I find? About 2000 supporters, out of the MILLIONS in America. 2000 supporters, out of the thousands in DC that are finally allowed to keep arms, if not bear them. That fight is not over.

About 2000 from across the nation. Out of an estimated 80 million gun owners.

I don’t know whether to celebrate this fact or to be ashamed. Either Americans are apathetic about the fight to retain the right to keep and bear arms or Americans are complacent because those that support the 2nd have been winning.

Since I am already familiar with the arguments and the culture of the 2nd Amendment, I decided that I would attend the rally as a “tourist” and attempt to look at the rally as a uninformed DC tourist. I traveled by bus along with the Richmond, Va. VCDL chapter. I was reunited with a long lost member of the UCV, Jesse. Go see his site at Insane Hippie.

First impressions are key. And my first impression was that the rally was small for such an important ideal. But, perhaps the rally would grow as the day went on……and it did. It was still smaller than I expected. But it was Monday and it was DC. I wouldn’t want to fight that traffic….

My other initial impression was that the rally goers were cheerful and inviting. Good music, friendly smiles, and laughter abounded. The yellow Gadsen flag and the Navy Jack flew proudly in the air. An enterprising fellow sold other smaller versions and a variation of the Texan Gonzales flag utilizing an image of the AR-15. Two small boys wandered the crowd, selling buttons, their pockets filled with cash. Think about that…….where else would you let your child wander, with or without cash, knowing that your child was safe and protected. Orange “Guns Saves Lives” stickers proliferated like dandelions. Passing tourists started to sprout them.I met people from Michigan, Ohio, California, Georgia, and Virginia. Their reasons for attending can encapsulated in one statement. Love of country. They all were there, not because of imminent threat to the 2nd Amendment, but to support it, to spread the message that the Constitution matters and if you restrict one right, all rights are vulnerable. They even offered language lessons …….

So, as a tourist, I took pictures. Hope you like them.

Re-enactors provided needed instruction to the park police about their new-fangled firearms.

Actually, the Park Police were extremely professional and seemed to enjoy themselves.For a crowd of such dangerous individuals, the presence was slight. Except for the two on the roof of the building across the street….

Smile and wave boys… smile and wave…. Remember, cute and cuddly……

Great personages graced the rally: Davy Crocket and his brother in arms, Button Gwinnett.Great feats of arms resulted of from the meeting….

General Washington (Kevin Grantz) and Mr. Patrick Henry reminded us of the true nature of our Republic. It is our responsibility to ensure its survival.

Michael Bane spoke of the American gun culture and the wonderment of actually succeeding on TV with no previous experience.